Ottawa shifts permanent residency focus to privately sponsored refugees

The federal government is increasing the number of privately sponsored refugees eligible for permanent residency while reducing the number of eligible government-sponsored refugees, according to the 2027 immigration levels plan released last week.

The plan says about 29,000 refugees and another 20,000 protected persons and family members will be granted permanent residency status annually through 2029. The overall number is similar to last year, but the government is adjusting who is eligible.

The number of privately sponsored refugees eligible will increase to 17,500 from 16,000 last year, while the number of eligible government-sponsored refugees will fall to just under 12,000 from more than 13,000 in 2025.

Groups such as religious societies and community organizations that privately sponsor refugees help them find housing and provide food, rent, clothing and other essentials during their first year in Canada.

Perspectives

Renze Nauta, a program director for the non-partisan think tank Cardus, said increasing the number of privately sponsored refugees is a good idea because they tend to be more successful at integration than those aided by the government. Nauta said Cardus wrote Immigration Minister Lena Diab in September asking that the percentage of privately sponsored refugees be increased after it was reduced last year.

"I think this is an example of where governments do leverage civil society and Canadians who support them, and I think we should do more of that," he said.

But Lauren Lallemand, co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, said the shift suggests the government is off-loading its responsibility onto civil society groups.

"The government has a moral and international law obligation to resettle refugees," Lallemand said.

"We’re disappointed to see what we interpret as a further kind of reduction in the state’s ownership of their responsibility in making sure that people receive protection in Canada and basically just transferring it on to communities and members of civil society."

Broader context

Citing declining rates of newcomers since 2024, both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Immigration Minister Lena Diab have argued the immigration system is back under control. Lallemand said it is disconcerting to hear the government point to declining numbers of refugees as part of its immigration narrative, noting there are several global crises and far more displaced people than 10 or 15 years ago.

The government passed a law last year requiring conventional asylum claims to be filed within a year of the claimant’s first arrival in Canada. Those applying after that time can still obtain protection through a pre-removal risk assessment. The government has justified the new power by pointing to a major spike in asylum claims after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Sources

• bnnbloomberg.ca: Ottawa focuses on permanent residency for sponsored refugees
• thestar.com: Ottawa puts sharper focus on permanent residency for privately sponsored refugees
• castanet.net: Ottawa puts sharper focus on permanent residency for privately sponsored refugees - Castanet.net

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.